Keflezighi breaks school record in 5,000

Tuesday, April 21, 1998

Keflezighi breaks school record in 5,000

MEN’S TRACK: Four-time NCAA champion places third, Mark Hauser
sets personal record at invitational

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

There must be something about the Mt. San Antonio College (SAC)
track that gives UCLA track and field runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi
an added boost. At last year’s Mt. SAC Relays, the senior set the
school record in the 5,000 meters at 13 minutes, 33.97 seconds.

The result Saturday at the 40th Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut,
Calif., this year was even better for Keflezighi, as he broke his
own school record, finishing the 3.1-mile race in 13:30.22.

The four-time NCAA champion, after running 99 miles the previous
week and not having as much speed as he would like to have, placed
third in the invitational race.

"The race was tactical, a lot of surging on and off," Keflezighi
said. "I wasn’t concerned about winning. I was just going for time.
I’m happy with the school record."

Former Oregon runner Karl Keska won the race, followed by Dan
Browne. Leads changed hands at several points through the race
before Keska and Keflezighi pulled away from the pack at the 3,200
meter mark. Keflezighi grabbed the lead with 900 meters left before
Keska passed him for good 400 meters later.

"I thought (Keflezighi) would run in the high 13:20’s or low
13:30’s, depending on what kind of place it was," UCLA head coach
Bob Larsen said. "I knew he wasn’t strong enough to press the pace
where he’d run sub-13:20 because he was training so hard."

Keflezighi was not the only Bruin that set a personal record in
the 5,000 meter race. Senior Mark Hauser finished 19th in 13:49.34.
Hauser’s time shatters his old lifetime best by six seconds.

"(Hauser’s) got more there left," Larsen said. "He just doesn’t
know how to use it."

While race tactics were a concern for Keflezighi, Hauser said he
just wanted to hang on and keep up with the pace.

"I’m smiling, I’m happy," Hauser said. "It’s a new event and I
keep making the same mistakes. I keep thinking I’m tired when I’m
not really that tired."

On Friday, Jim McElroy and Bryan Harrison won their respective
heats in the 200 meter dash in 21.04 and 21.06 seconds. Devin
Elizondo placed 16th in the 3,00 meter steeplechase in 9:08.7.

Other results on Saturday include Luke Sullivan placing second
in the University/Open hammer throw with a mark of 201 feet, 2
inches. Wade Tift finished ninth with a throw of 158-5.

On Sunday, the 4 by 100 meter relays team of Akil Davis,
Harrison, Jacob Glickman and Damian Allen finished fifth in
40.18.

Brian Fell placed second in the 400 meter hurdles in 51.36
seconds while 110-meter hurdler, Gerimi Burleigh finished sixth in
14.72 seconds.

Scott Slover finished third in the Invitational pole vault with
a mark of 17-8 1/2.

Tift captured victory in the University/Open shot put
competition with a heave of 61-1 1/4. Teammate Travis Haynes
finished third, with a mark of 58-1/4.

The Associated Press

Ato Boldon does a victory lap after winning the 100 meters
invitational Sunday.